Assembly apparatus



uly 12, 19 G. A. FRANCIS ET AL ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet l I \l s L l g 3 INVENTOR.

Gerald A. Francis Howard C. Davis Charles E. Smith ATTORNEYS.

July 1960 G. A. FRANCIS ET AL 2,944,333

ASSEMBLY APPARATUS 8 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1955 INVENTOR. Gerald A. Fronpis BY Howard C. DC|V IS I Charles E.Sm|fh 3? ATTOFNEYS ASSEMBLY APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 23, 1955 INVENTOR. Gerald A. Francis Howard C. Davis BY Charles E. Smith 27m, M

ATTORNEYS July 12, 1960 G. A. FRANCIS ET AL 2,944,333

ASSEMBLY APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 23, 1955 5 2 2 v w m wmw m mw illim INVENTOR. Gerald A. Francis Howard C. Davis Charles E. Smith ATTORNEYS y 1960 G. A. FRANCIS ETAL 2,944,333

ASSEMBLY APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 23, 1955' .Fi J5 s .mm m Wm MHDS 0 m M CE P wmm M m G r T H mm 1 GHC M July 12, 1960 G. A. FRANCIS A ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1955 8 SheetsSheet 7 INVENTOR. Gerald A. Francis Howard C. Davis Charles E. Smith ATTORNEYS July 12, 1960 s. A. FRANCIS ET AL 2,

ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 BY Howard C. Davis Charles E. Smnh 5 Mm, M 4 zarroRN'Ys.

determined plan of mass production.

United States Patent ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Gerald A. Francis and Howard C. Davis, Columbus, and Charles E. Smith, Worthington, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Hurd Lock & Manufacturing Co., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 23, 1955, Ser. No. 555,047

21 Claims. '(Cl. 29-211) This invention relates to a lock assembling machine. More particularly, it relates to a machine to assemble pins and springs in the body of pin-tumbler-type locks automatically, and successively, in accordance with a pre- Pin-tumbler-type locks have many uses in the presentday world. One

very common mass use of these locks is in automobiles.

Each automobile usually has at least five locks, including two for the doors, one for the ignition, and one each for the glove and trunk compartments.

Although these locks are used in large quantities, most of the operations in their assembly have been manual. With the exception of the lock manufacturing machine shown in Patent 1,679,759, it is believed that lock assembling has remained a substantially manual process requiring semiskilled workers to perform the delicate, tedious, and perfunctory tasks of inserting pins and springs in the lock body. In order to provide desirable deviation among the locks being assembled, it is necessary that the assembling machine have means of accurately controlling the lock combination and that this control means be easily capable of manipulation to a predetermined plan or schedule of lock combinations. I

In order that the assembly apparatus of this invention can be fully understood and appreciated, it is necessary that certain fundamental concepts concerning pin-tumbler locks be understood.

A pin-tumbler lock 29, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a cylinder body 30, a key plug 31, a cover 32, a retainer 33, a plurality of pins 34 and springs 35.

The cylinder body 30 comprises a rectangular upper portion 36 formed integrally with a cylindrical lower portion 37. The lower portion 37 is providedwith an internal bore 38 to receive the key plug 31 which is adapted to rotate therein. The key plug 31 is provided with at least one longitudinal slide 39 to match a groove of a key 40. The upper portion 36 of the cylinder body 30 is provided with a plurality of aligned adjacent spaced cylindrically bored pin chambers 41. The key plug 31 is provided with a plurality of pin chambers 42 that register with the pin chambers 41.

Each pin chamber 41 contains one of the pins 34. The pins 34 are divided into a driver or upper portion 43 and a tumbler or lower portion 44. The driver portion 43 is provided with shoulder section 98 of reduced diameter at the top. The tumbler portion 44 terminates in a rounded end 79.

In a finished lock 29 ready for use, the upper portion 43 and the lower portion 44 are divided at the pin division 45 into separate disconnected pieces. However,

during the assembly process, to be later described in sions: pin 34 outside diameter, about inch; pin 34 7 2,944,333 Patented .July 12, 1960 length, about 5i inch; shoulder section A outside diameter about less than the pin 34 outside diameter; neck 46 diameter, about .010 inch; and division 45, width (prior to assembly) about .015 inch.

In the final assembled condition, ready for use, the springs 35 urge the pins 34 downward into the pin chamber 42 as far as possible, bearing upon the shoulder of the shoulder section 98 at one end and the cover 32 at the opposite end. When no key is present in the key plug 31, the pins in all chambers are pressed downward to their farthennost position in the pin chamber 42. As shown in the 1eft-hand chamber of the lock 29 of Fig. 1, the upper portion 43 of the pin 34 is engaged partially in the upper chamber 41 and partially in the lower chamber 42 so that rotation of the key plug 31 in the bore 38 is prevented.

When the lock is assembled in operating position in an object, such as an automobile, an extension 47 0f the key plug 31 is adapted to engage and restrain the operation of some movable part. The lock 29 is positioned in such a way that rotation of the key plug will release the particular part and allow movement thereof.

It will be seen that when the key plug 31 is prevented from rotating by the pin 34 the use of the part restrained by the extension 47 will be prevented and the object will be locked.

A key 40 for a pin-tumbler lock 29 is provided with positions of previously established elevation or stations 48. The number of stations 48 is equal to the number of lock chambers 41 and the center of each station aligns with the longitudinal axis of the chambers 41 when the key 40 is in proper position in the lock 29.

When the key 40 is inserted into the groove 39 o the key plug 31, the lower portions 44 of the pin 34 are raised in the elevations imposed by a matching key station 48. If the station 48 is of the proper elevation to raise the pin 34 to a position where the pin division 45 matches with the diameter of the bore 38 the key plug 31 will be free to rotate with respect to the particular pin and station, as shown in the right-hand and two adjacent stations of Fig. 1, and as shown in Fig. 2. When a proper key is inserted in a lock 29 all of the pins 34 are elevated to the proper position by the various stations 48, so that the pin divisions 45 on all of the pins 34 in the lock 29 are at the proper elevation to allow the rotation of key plug 34 in the bore 38. When the key plug 31 rotates, the part restrained by extension 47 is released, and thus the proper key unlocks the object.

If an improper key 40 is inserted in a lock 29, conditions will exist such as that shown in Fig. 1. In this situation, although some of the pins 34 maybe raised to the proper elevation as shown in the three right-hand stations 48, since the two left-hand stations 48 on the key 40 are of improper heights, the pin divisions 45 on these two pins 34 will be above or below the bore surface 38, and rotation of the key plug 31 will be effectively prevented.

A typical pin-tumbler lock in the conventional practice of the automobile industry is a pin-tumbler lock of five different division length pins and five matching station 48 elevations. These pins 34 of diflerent division lengths differ from one another by reason of a difierence in the length of upper portion 43 and lower portion 44. In this conventional practice, then, it will be apparent that in a five-pin lock using pins of five division lengths there is a total possible number of combinations of 5 or 3,125. It is a conventional practice to manufacture about 1,000 of these 3,125 possible combinations. It'has been the conventional high-volume production practice to assemble pin-tumbler locks in a series of manual operations requiring many semiskilled workers and alert supervisors to handle the tedious tasks of picking up Z 'Iii i s rec pta fi l a age 'ppsiaon .i pkm th ng e iu'ovement 'actuat'ion by an operator: It' is still a further PPFPQSQ p ovi e n s mb y appa s ch wi inse'r't a spring in a matching cha-n b'er from a storage posifi PL a in ii temc t'a uat g by ll p ratort s Y a qfh fbie t rovi e a ar us wh s will hi f 5 n in hamb l' fif Pfil-fll'filbkr' 1 k an dl i n in r a spi i l n thi a e i mb W he P l It is a'pu'rpose of this i'nyeiitiqn toproyide assembly apparatus which is adapted to insert" a plurality of dis} ti g habl qn a s o j c s n a plur lity f ma h5 'erl a ord ng t a pr etermin dP m t t n f object distinguishable features w'itlirespe'c to chamber identificatiorii It is 'another'obj'ectto provide assembly t s whi h is dap ed to nse ti ne' Q p re y p 6f l fi rl n' iv-ii i n' sii h ni nief a plu a ty .of matching pin chambers of a pin-tumbler lock according I eter-mi d pl l mllte i n, f p n d v sion engths wltl i spe to h mbc' p fipn'w th n he g' pp' the singleniovernent actuation by anopera't'or.

It is an object of this invention to proyide' apparatus isadapted in combination to tranmit a plurality ofr'flock bodies through aseries of succ I positions and to perform the following assembly opera; flops 1n e 0 k dy n u ce siv s eps, being performed substantially sin ultane u sly upon the single n overnent of actuation by an operator; inserting dfiebf a ur ity if bi s of tdifierefit d s on. l n h in each of 'aseries of pin'chantbers 1n the lock body accordi 1. a r d erm n d Pflmu a amf Pi divisio'n e ths tli respect to the position of the chambers in the SQries s th 'p in o dri erd umb r iw t n's' (upper e a' hec amb rsf d in'ea ch chamber over figich se and loyver, respectively) vyh s l p i press; Pi a I .2, 9 an obj c to p q id appa atus fo upply g pri s Q t i chambers o a pinv 'um ls l gkfia i e ns, iij a i r de 'n iigw eth apm fp cs iltin 6932b Pin am r'and mean fresppnsi eitg he e mining ineans', for feeding a'sp'ringto eachpin bet that ha a P he eon.

It is an b e of t i n ent on prqv s e a pp ra s W llv l i a ilitat 1 QIJ I IQ Qf' i tYb i production of locks so that loclgs are produced rapidly i i' h'012 m! .m e ul t c Qm i It is st ll al iyr hsr grpcs t l' r vide n easie t j hat is i d s e tofa sjsernble pins and springs inflbct bodies by ineans which greatly reduce the manual tediousness and ex ctns's lir vi u 'ly' required. It is W. o he bbi t qf r Yide, apparatus which 'vyill automatically assemble the pins and springs in lock bodies at reduced cost by reason of the reduced time of assembly and increased accuracy 9? sssemb i It is' a purpose of this invention to provide apparatus adapted to receive elongated objects of a plurality of size groups, uniformly sized within a group and of p111- l t 9f t n ab e th e u r s b.1 1 i PPQd andornly Within each group'with respect to ppsitio'm and to convey and orient the objeets according to a gis and disti is b c features of co fi urat n t po ti n le e fr a' series, the selection being changeable frorn one 9Pi9t t9 h n x i It is a further purpose of this inventionto provide apge ms a p ed 'q'r i 'e as 1 f st ntially'identical in lengthpbut identifiablebyend con; fi 1 a in eas n p i i within the r ie @9 jects is not presen t vtor feeding. is a further object to provide a sensing gate ni'chanisni v vhich is adapted to receive and detain a plurality of lock pins destined for a l ml y t chambe s n 09 body, o sense 1116 0f 1' rii i hj s t lfg f s h the vc li ibe .s

" 1 '1 s si na i t even "ah t were fifths, ch mbers, with? F rpm: byib 21 9. I 199119 at e simultaneously released by the withdrawal of the first needle member.

Features of the apparatus for supplying helical springs to the pin chambers of a pin-tumbler lock include: means for determining whether a pin is present in each pin chamber, comprising a rod aligned with each pin chamber, and means .yieldably connected to each rod to move the rod at a selected time into its corresponding pin chamber, against the pin if a pin is present in the chamber, and to a greater depth if a pin is not present in the chamber; means communicating with each pin chamber for feeding helical springs thereto singly; means, responsive to each determining means, for causing the feeding means to feed one spring to its associated pin chamber when a pin is present in the chamber, comprising switching means for completing an electrical connection to actuate the feeding means when a pin is present in the chamber and for opening the electrical connection when a pin is not present in the chamber; means for withdrawing the rods from the pin chambers before the springs are fed to the'pin chambers; means, including the yieldably connected means, for moving the rods into the pin chambers again, after the springs have been fed to the pin chambers, to press the springs to positions completely within the pin chambers; means for withdrawing the rods again from the pin chambers; and means, responsive to the determining means, for interrupting the operation of the apparatus, and of the associated apparatus for supplying the pins to the pin chambers, when a pin is missing from more than a predetermined number of pin chambers, comprising switching means for opening the electrical connections to all of the spring feeding means, and for modifying an electrical connection in the associated apparatus.

Apparatus for feeding singly to a predetermined receiving location a plurality of substantially identical helical springs that are greater in axial length than in diameter, a part of the present invention, includes the following features: a container for the springs; a vertical cylindrical outlet in the container, having a diameter greater than the diameter of the springs and less than twice the spring diameter; a member in the container having a shallow conical funneling surface located above the bot-tom surface of the container, having a diameter greater than the length of the springs, and communicating with the outlet; means for vibrating the container substantially vertically so as to raise the springs and cause some of the springs to fall on the shallow conical surface and through the outlet, comprising a flat spring connected to the container and a cam in contact with the flat spring; an inclined trough located with its upper portion below the outlet in the container to catch the springs falling through the outlet; a guide channel formed by the bottom surface in the trough for permitting the springs. to slide down the trough in a line along their axes; an impact plate in the trough for breaking apart any tangled springs; a cylindrical outlet in said trough in line with the guide channel at the lower end of the trough, having a diameter greater than the diameter of the springs and less than twice the spring diameter; a hollow guide communicating with the outlet for guiding the springs in line axially to an intermediate stopping location in the apparatus; an opening in the lower end of the trough, adjacent to the outlet, large enough to permit any springs reaching the vicinity of the outlet but failing to enter the outlet to drop through the opening; a receptacle located below the last-mentioned opening for receiving and containing any of the springs dropping through the opening; a release mechanism at the intermediate stopping location for releasing one spring at a time, comprising a lower retainer and an upper retainer located above the lower retainer a distance greater than the length of the springs and less than twice the spring length, and means for alternately releasing one retainer while moving the other retainer into its retaining position in such manner that when the lower retainer is being released the upper retainer is moved into its retaining position, retaining the spring then second lowest in the hollow guide, before the lower retainer releases the spring then lowest in the hollow guide, and that when the upper retainer is being released the lower retainer is moved into its retaining position, to catch the spring then lowest in the hollow guide, before the upper retainer releases the spring; a hollow guide continuation communicating with the intermediate stopping point for conducting each spring released by the release mechanism to the predetermined receiving location; and means responsive to preselected conditions at the receiving location for controlling the operation of the release mechanism.

Another feature of this invention is the way in which the various assembly operations of pin feeding, pin ramming, and spring feeding are performed upon the single movement of actuation by an operator substantially simultaneously, and the way that the previously tedious and pains-taking task of pin-and-spring assembly in lock bodies is reduced to the one operation of loading and unloading a lock body from a fixture and the performance of a simple movement of actuation by the operator.

To these and other ends, this invention comprises the previously described features of apparatus, details of which are disclosed in the following description and attached drawings:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation view of a pin-tumbler lock taken along line 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a typical unseparated pin used in a typical pin-tumbler lock;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the turntable lock body conveyer used in this invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the turntable and pininserting unit, in assembled position thereon; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the vibrator storage and feed bowls and the orientator-dispenser mechanisms of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of the sensinggate mechanism of the pin insertion unit of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a top sectional View taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top perspective view of the orientator-dispenser mechanism'of the pin-insertion unit of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation view of a portion of the orientator-dispenser mechanism with the slide block at a difierent position than that shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation view of a portion of the :orientator-dispenser mechanism under a different condition of operation from that shown in Fig. 10;

- Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation view of the orientatordispenser mechanism with the slide block at a difi'erent position from that shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one vibrator feed and storage bowl used in the present invention;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the ramming mechanism used in the present invention;

Fig. 16 is a. control-system circuit diagram for the pinloading unit and the pin-ramming unit of the invention;

Fig. 17 is a front perspective View of the spring-inserting unit;

Fig. 18 is a front perspective view of the loader mechanism comprising a portion of the spring-inserting uni-t;

' Fig. 19 is a side-elevation view of the loader mechanism of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a side-elevation view, partly in section, of the spring-feeding mechanism comprising a portion of t sp -m e n unit;

aaszigaee pins and springs in a five-chamber lock, it is apparent that a similar machine could be constructed for the assembly of locks having a different number of chambers.

General aspectsof locic-zissembling machine.

Referring o. igs,.,4, 5, 5 a d 17, eel esse hlihs of this inven o eehr fi e e ih-leeih h te enerall s 51 (F g, a p n-ramming 3 3 deel d gea'f h' s 5 (Pi a spews-lees: i eei a l a .53 is- Wh ehste a med tehemeh ted t ra ia l pa e ee it eh $9 9 lie eh l h Pe i hera e 4' .e Ia ti -int 1e 5.5 51244); -he ur b is P QY QQQ with a tal re lef r d ll spa d. ture eight being s ew?! n; 3 s. 4 Eeeh h h t e i a ap d t e v eh 1 .9. the cylinder body 30 of a pin-tumbler log}; rectangular upper portion 36 in the vertieally uppermost Position hefihthre e e-ta t he te h er -t ble; 55 by suitable means such as. screws, preferably in a posi: tiehseth t he: n i udi al h e e the fi tu e heeits longitudinal axis passing through the center. of rotation 9 he hhhtehle '55- Al fixtu e 5. a ib t e equidistant from the center of rotation of the turntable .5 Th turntable 55 is a a ed 'e etet hr h h h cessive intermittent steps carrying each fiieture g'-}1?-7 th eh h eries o ro r s v steps te e p r i v ef anghlarly ofiset stations with respect to the loch-assem: bli m eh he In th k-a s mb mee i t this Hon, three different assembly operations are performed by the machine, one by each of the pin-loading 1 1. the Pinemm ng n 52 and h e r seed s ligwn diagrammaticelly in Fig. 4, the several units 51 52, and 53 maybe disposed at the stations on the m htable. 55 which ar 90 degr e e t 9 a i .ed L, 1F s- 4, i p o de t ees-li lo h bodies 30 into and for unloading looks 29 from .the fixtures '6 lathe, .ngrmal operation of the loc loassembling rnachin eflock bodies 30 are loaded singly intq the fiirtnres 55 dpring the time that t e fi ture 56 remains stationary a i th elloading station L in the intermittent rotary progress oi the tiirntable 55. The lock bodies 30 have their pinehambers 4:1 empty at the time they are loaded and hi the. eve h us -de c ib d mpty. look body 30 is provided With a hardened key etthet h e it i 1 e 1 din e h hh re E eh em y l ek e Y 0 ma t s i n e x u Pe tion beneath the pin-loading unit 51 where a pin 34 is inserted in each chamber 41 according to a predetermined permutation of pin division lengths. After the pins 34 are inserted in the chambers 41, the lock body 30 is carried progressively with the intermittent rotary action of the turntable 55 to a position beneath the ramming unit 52 where. the pins 34 are rammed by means of a sharpblow from above and the neck portions 46 are nushed for hepu pos of epa i g a h p nt an upper portion 43 and a lower portion 44. After thepins are. en wed; h eek hed 7 m v w i he hhth 1y h e th e eeeeei e e ieh 19 e hes e spring-loading unit 53. At. this position, springs 35 are inserted in the pin chambers 41 over eaeh 13i he ei 7 the prih e i eve n i r ed the eek body'30, the fixture 56 progresses with. the intet rhittent rotary motion of the turntable 55 to the loading position L where theassembled lock. 29: is; remoyed': from J the fixture 56 by an operator, and is replaced 'syithan empty lock. body30.

"In the normal operation of. the iockrassernbling zip.- paratus, all threev of thetassemblyt operations, i..e. -pinv loading, ramming,v 'and-l spring-loading, are performed substantially simultaneously .ateach station by the single movement of actuation by. anoperator. single movement of :operation comprises the. closingofnan .elec; trical contact through .a switch, such; asthe-ioot switch 58, as shown in Fig. 5.

Pin-loading unit seemin ref-is. he pisioinae t .51- was i es a pin eeh e er' the es eetien, e

s e ly asst sup r e 1 t inable e. shit artisa s. t tieelheme T911} th d a eta Pi hast te th empt bodies to sthat! 14,. thesis-storage. earl homey-er unit 15!! eemp isesa lhteht -ef 65 horizontally supported and faetet etl tggether el tion.- t re by the. es .lsnihd epta h type shown 1h. .U-S- Bateht;2,.6-9,.6.,292-.. E provided wi hin p u alityz oilspinal eonse e ie a e es 67:-.f0.rm.cd onth nn r peripheraLwal Since. the particulars lochassembling maQhing,,iS. 'Q!1 structed to assemble. pins .34 in .fl.1Q,Ck;29;-h3yiIkg'-fiYQ chambers 41, thebowlsoi are -p.rovidgd.withfive.difr ferent spiral grooves 6 fl."(Fig. 1.4).. Eachspiral groove 67 is adapted toreceivea plurality of lock pins Gt-in single 'file. anddispo sedgw-ith theirlongitudinal. axes slightly. inclinedtupward. Each groove 6 7; terminates .in a tangential portion 68;: As. shown most .-.clearly. in Fig. 6, in. the. assembled. machine. each tangential portion v68 is fastenedto a spring chute-U69, by means of a spring: support member '70.=which is connected to the end of the tangential portion 68.:

Before operation .of the pinning. unit 51, isicornrnenced each bowl-'65 is loaded. with. randomly placed pins- 14: The ibowls are largeenough-to holdflseveral thousand pins of the size conventionally. used in automobile. locks, 'as shownin Fig. 14. During. the normal operation..-o f the pin-loading unit 51::and asshowninthecircuitdiagram of Fig. 16, 21 source of electrical energyis provided to the vibrator coil 66, which, inaccordance with the principle of U.S .'Pat er1t--2,696,2 92, providesa vibrator-y oscillatory: motion ,to-the. bowls 65. When the-vibrator coil 66 operates, the. oscillatory vibratory movement'- of the bowl 65 causes the pins 34 thereinto migrate to the peripheryofthe-bowl 65' andto become lodged inthe spiral grooves 67, The movement .of the bowls causes the pins to advance upward and outwardalong the path of the groove 69 and tobe-conveyed insingle file through the tangential portion 68 andthe spring chute 69 where the pins enter-the or-ientator-dispenser mech} anism 61 (Pig; 9) During operationthe pins are being conveyed continnously-into theorientator-di'spenser mech anisms. One orientator-dispenser mechanism-61-is provided for eachspiral groove 67 outlet on eachabowl. The pins 34 that are depositedv into the orientator-clispenscr mechanism 61;"Wi2lil6 longitudinally disposed-"in 9 single file, are randomly disposed with respect to' end configuration. In this respect the pins may be traveling either with the shoulder section 98 foremost and the tumbler portion 44 rearmost or vice versa.

Referring to Figs. 6, l4, and 5, each bowl is provided with a plurality of notches 126 in the outer peripheral side and adjacent to the tangential portions 68. The notches 126 extend vertically downward to intersect the spiral grooves 67 and are adapted to allow broken, bent, or otherwise malformed pins 34 traveling in the grooves 67 to fall outward and be rejected. These broken or bent pins 34 fall into one of a plurality of trays 122., most clearly seen in Fig. 6, that are fastened one beneath each bowl 68. The trays 122 are fastened integrally with the bowl 68 and the oscillatory-vibratory motion of the bowl 68 structure is imparted to the trays 122 which convey the malformed pins in the trays 122 to a central aperture (not shown) at the rear of the machine. As shown in Fig. 5, one of a plurality of tubular chutes 123 conveys the malformed pins from the aperture in the trays 122 to one of a plurality of containers 124 which are supported on a shelf 125 of the machine frame.

Referring to Figs. 6, 9, and 10, the orientator-dispenser mechanism 61 comprises a grooved chute member having a groove 81 connected in prolongation of the spring chute 69. An angular support member 82 is bolted to the frame member 62 and is provided with an upstanding flange portion 83 which supports the chute member 80 in an inclined position by suitable fastening means, such as bolts 84.

A slide block 85 is fastened beneath and is supported at the lower end of the chute member 86 by a suitable means, such as screws 86, as most clearly shown in Fig. 10. A tube-chute-support member 87 is fastened beneath the slide block 85 by means of the bolts 86 also.

The slide block 85 is provided with a groove 88 having its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the groove 81 in the chute member 80. The groove 88 extends the length of the slide block 85 and is shown as substantially rectangular in cross-sectional shape. A slide 89 having a cross-sectional shape complementary to that of the groove 88 is provided in the groove 88 and is adapted to reciprocate therein. The slide 89 is positioned directly below the chute member 80.

Groove 81 is provided at its lower terminal end with a gaging aperture 90 of a shape similar to that of a pin 34 (Fig. 9). The gaging aperture 9%) is provided with a portion of decreased width at its lower terminus 91 which is adapted to receive the shoulder section of a pin 34. The length of the gaging aperture 90 is slightly longer than the length of the pin 34.

The slide 89 is provided with an aperture 92 at a position longitudinally removed from the position of the gaging aperture 90, in the normal position of rest of the slide member 89, as shown in Fig. 9. The aperture 92 is only slightly longer than the portion of maximum diameter of a pin 34.

A cam plate 93 is provided above the upper surface of the slide 89 at a distance slightly more than the diameter of a pin 34, and is fastened thereto by suitable means, such as screws 94. Cam plate 93 is provided at one side thereof with an inclined surface 95 laterally spaced from the gaging aperture 90. The inclined surface 95 is contoured into a recess portion 96 adjacent and over the gaging aperture 98.

A cover plate 100 is positioned on the upper surface of the chute member 80, and is adapted to partially enclose the groove 81 at its upper side.

The slide block 85 as shown most clearly in Fig. 10 is provided with an aperture 101 positioned beneath gaging aperture 90 of groove 81. The aperture is aligned with downward converging sides 103 of the tube-chute support block 87, Converging sides 103 of the tube support 10 block 87 are contoured into a cylindrical bore 104. A tubular chute member 105 is positioned beneath the bore 104, and is received in a counter bore 106 by a light press fit.

A spring arm 110 is operatively connected to the slide 89 by means of a connecting link 111 which is fastened to the slide 89 by suitable means such as screws 112 (Fig. 9). The spring arm 110 is operatively connected to the connecting link 111 by means of projecting side member 113 of a U clip 114.

The spring arm 110 is fastened at its opposite upper end to a post 115 which is connected at the side to the chute member 80 by suitable means, such as a bolt 116.

An electric solenoid 117 (Fig. 6) having a reciprocal arbor 118 is operatively connected to the spring arm 110 by means of projecting side members 119 of a U clip 127. One lug 119 is provided on each side of the spring arm 11 0 and is adapted to engage the side of and to flex the arm 110 upon reciprocation of the arbor'118, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 9. The solenoid 117 is positioned on the horizontal flange of the support member 82 and fastened thereto by suitable means, such as bolts 120. Wire leads 121 are provided from the solenoid 117 to a source of electrical energy, as shown in the circuit diagram in Fig. 16.

Tubular chute 105 from each orientator-dispenser mechanism 61 is connected to and feeds into one of the chutes '63, as seen in Fig. 6. In the lock-assembling machine of the example, since each lock has five chambers, there are five pin chutes 63, one being adapted to convey a pin 34 for each pin chamber 41. Also, in the example machine, pins of five different division lengths are used and each bowl 65 contains pins 34 of the same division length only. An orientator-dispenser mechanism 61 is provided for each of the five outlets on each of the five bowls making a total of twenty-five on'entator-dispenser mechanisms 61.

In the normal operation of the orientator-dispenser mechanism 61, pins are fed from the springchute 69 into the groove 81 where they slide down its inclined surface in abutting, single-file relationship. The lowermost or first pin 34 slides into the gaging aperture 90 and rests on the slide 89, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12. If the first pin has the shoulder section 98 forward, the shoulder section projects into the terminus portion 91, and rests in the relative position shown in Fig. 10. If the first pin 34 has its shoulder section 98 rearward, the larger diameter of the body engages the entrance shoulder of the terminus portion 91 and the body portion is held in the same relative position, as shown in Fig. 12.

The following or second pin 34 slides to an abutting position behind the first pin, taking a position with its shoulder section 98 in contact with the end 79, as shown in Fig. 10, or a position with the shoulder end of the section 98 abutting the end of the shoulder section of the first pin as shown in Fig. 12.

It often occurs that the first and second pins may arrive with ends 79 abutting or with the first pin having its shoulder section 98 rearward and the second pin with its shoulder section 98 rearward. However, the conditions illustrated in Figs. 10 and 12 serve to illustrate the operation of the orientator-dispenser mechanism 61 under all four possible pin 34 arrival conditions.

When the solenoid 117 is energized, the arbor 118 is actuated to the left, as viewed in Fig. 9. The projecting lug 119 on the right side of the spring arm 110 engages and flexes the spring arm 110 to the left. The movement of the spring arm 110 to the left moves the slide 89 to the left, sliding in the groove 88. As the slide 89, with the cam plate 93, moves to the left the inclined surface 95 engages the second pin 34. As the slide 89 continues to the left, the inclined surface 95 forces the second pin backward and upward in the groove 81 to a disengaged position with respect to the first pin 34, as shown in Figs. 11 and 13. The slide 89 continues to move to the left until the aperture 92 is positioned below the groove gaging aperture 90,.at. which time the: pin 34 falls through the aperture 92., by the action of'gravity and continues downward through the-convergent sides 103, through the throat 104, and into the chute 63 by means of the tubular chute1tl5..

lathe event that thefirst pin 34 is disposed in the gaging aperture 9.0:with, its shoulder section 98 foremost, the shoulder section 98 engages on the forward .edge of the aperture 92 causing the pin to rotatecloekwise and descend with the shoulder section 98 upward, as shown in Fig. 11. Iii-.011. the other hand, the first pin 34 isdisposed with the shouldersection- 981rearward, the pin 34 is rotated in the oppositeqdirection' which causes the pin to fall with the shoulder section 9.8 upward, as shownin Fig. 13. Thus, the orientatorgdispenser mechanism 61 operates to release a :singleipin oriented as to its end configuration, i.e., the shouldersection 98 upward orrearwardupon the activationof the solenoid 117.

As the slide'89 rnoves to the left, the cover 10.0, which proiects partially over the groove 81, prevents the second and succeeding. pins from climbing on of the groove 81 as they are forcedrearw r by the inclined surface 95.

"The use: of a spring memberllt) as the actuating lever for; theslide 89 is any advantage in that overloads on the solenoid 117 are prevented in the event a pin 34 jams in theorientator:dispenser mechanism 61. Since the pins' 34 may-berelatively small, oninfrequent occasions imperfectly formed pins 34'may *be conveyed into the orientator-dispenser mechanism 61. In this event, the imperfect pin may prevent the proper reciprocal action of-the slide 89-.- Under'thesecircumstances, when the solenoid 117 is actuatedthe spring arm 110 flexes beyond its normal operating position and all strains on the operating mechanism are relieved without harm.

As will be later described in further detail, the failure of the; Ol'lCIltfltQl'rdlSPBHSGl' mechanism 61 to function properly and allow a pin 34 to descend through the chute 631s;v detected in the controls. The orientator-dispenser mechanism may be operated again, in which case the jam may be released; or the mechanism may receive the attennon of an ope at HP e I, i as b en f un ha withh lus on of ma on e -p ns ha ex ee n ma production tolerances, the orientator-dispenser mechanism olflthis invention is substantially infallible and is capable ofproviding 6,000 oriented pins per hour without attention,

Br reason o he fa t that an e e -di ser mechanism. is provided to feed from each bowl 65 to each chute 63, the pinrloadiug unit 51 is capable of providing. a pin of any one of. five difierent division lengths in any. one of the fivepin chambers of a lock 29, Theprovision of. a certain size pin for a certain chamber is accomplished by the provision of electrical energy to the solenoid. 11.7 of the proper. orientatoradispenser mechanism 61 on the chute 63 which feeds theselected chamber. 41.

Referringto Figs. 5, 7, and 8, the sensing-gate mechanism-64 comprises: a composite escapement block 1311 which is supported above the turntable 55 at the position for pin loading; a gate subassembly, designated generally as 131, which is supported by the escapement block 130; and a sensing subassembly, designated generally as 132 supported by the escapement block 130.-

Escapement block 130 comprises a plurality of plate members 133 fastened. in contiguous position by suitable means such as bolts 134' (Fig. 8). In the sensing-gate mechanism of the example, since the locks 29 to be filled have live chambers, five intermediate plates 133 are clamped between outer plates 133. Each intermediate plate 133 is providedwith an internal passage 135 from an aperture 136 at the lower horizontal surface 137 of the escapement block 130.. to the upper horizontalsurface 138:-t erminating inan enlarged. bore 139 whichis adapted to-ireceive the terminal end of a chute63. The position of; entranceqof the terminal ends of the-chutes 63 are staggered with relation to .each other for clearance purposes, as shown in Fig. 8. The escapement block and the apertures 136 are arranged so that a lock 29 being held in a fixture 56 on the turntable 55 will be positioned with the five empty chambers 41 thereof directly below the apertures 136 of the passages The escapement block 130 is held in this position by means of a support member 140 which is fastened to the machine frame by suitable means, not shown.

At the right side of the escapement block 130, as seen in Fig. 7, a support bracket 141 is fastened by suitable means such as screws 142. An electric solenoid 143 is suspended from the support bracket 141 by means such as screws 144. The solenoid 143 is provided with a reciprocal arbor 145 to which is fastened a gate support block 156 by means of a screw 157. Gate support block 156 carries a platelike gate 158 which is adapted in its normal position to cover the apertures 136 of escapement block 138, The gate 158 reciprocates to the right, being carried by the support block 156 upon the reciprocation of the arbor when the solenoid 143 is energized. Spring means 159 is provided to return the arbor 155 to the normal position when the solenoid 143' is deenergized.

A sensing assembly support block is fastened at the lower side of escapement block 130 by means such as screws 166. Support block 165 is substantially L-shaped in plan view, as shown in Fig. 8, comprising a longitudinal portion 167 and a base portion 168. A plurality of electrical switches 169 having contact buttons 171 are bolted in contiguous side-by-side relation against the side of the leg portion 167 by means such as bolts 170.

A support member 172 is fastened to the upper S 4!" face ofthe base portion 168 by suitable means such as bolts 173, and supports an electric sensing solenoid 174 by'means such as bolts 175 therein. 8 I V The sensing solenoid 174 is provided with a reciprocable arbor 176 having fastened thereto a transverse head 177 (Fig. 8). Sensing rod head 177 is provided with a plurality of adjacent spaced longitudinal bores 188 each of which is adapted to receive therein a sensingrod 179 by smoothly sliding fit. Base portion 168 of support block 165 is provided with a plurality of adjacent spaced bores 1811 coaxial with the bores 178 of the head 177. The sensing rods 179' are disposed inthe bores 178 and 180 and are adapted to slide and contact the switch buttons 171 of the switches 169. I

Each sensing rod 179 is provided with a collar 181 rigidily fastened thereto. Each collar 181 is provided with a downwardly depending finger 182. The finger 182 is formed in a 90-degree bend at the lower edge {if the base portion 168 of the support member 165, and extends horizontally into a receptive passage 183 in the escapement block 130. The passage 183 terminates at its inner end in a passage 135 at a position adjacent the aperture 136 thereof.

A lateral recess groove 186 is provided in the base portion 168 to give freedom of movement for a compression spring 187 which encircles the sensing rod 181) and engages the collar 181. A second compression spring 188 encircles the sensing rod 180 engaging the opposite side of the collar 181 at one end and the he a d 177 at the other end. I i I A laterally disposed guide bar 189 depends horizontally from the base portion 168, as most clearly seen in 7. The guide bar 189 is provided with a vertical elongated slot 198 perpendicularly below the line of action of each sensing rod 180. Each finger 182 projects through the slot 180 which is vertically beneath the sensing rod 180 from which that finger 182 depends. The slot'19t1fnaintains the verticalalignment of the upper portion of the finger 182 and limits the reciprocable horizontal travel of the sensing rod 180. l

In the-normal operation of the pin-loading unit 51,"a

pin 34 is dispensed from one of the orientator-dispenser mechanisms 61 into each of the chutes 63 and progresses downward into the sensing-gate mechanism 64. The descending pins 34 enter the passages 135 of the escapement block 130 and pass downward to a position of rest on the gate 158 in the position shown in the broken section portion of Fig. 7. After sufficient time has been allowed for the arrival of all five pins at the rest position on the gate 158, electrical energy is provided to the solenoid 174 which moves the arbor 176 and the head 177 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 7. As the head 177 moves to the right each collar 181 is independently urged to the right by means of a spring 188. As each collar 18-1 moves to the right, its depending finger 182 moves to the right until the end of the finger contacts a pin 34 at its position of rest on the gate 158. In this positidn of finger engagement of the pin 34, the sensing rod 178 has not traveled far enough to the right to contact the button 171 of the switch 169, and the continued travel to the right of the head 177 is taken up by further compression of the spring 188 as the head 177Qslides to the right on the sensing rod 179. V

In the event that there has been a malfunction of an orientator-dispenser mechanism 61 and any one of the passages v135 is empty at the pin rest position, the finger 182 passes beyond the normal position of pin engagement at the end of passage 183 during the reciprocal travel to the right of the sensing rod 179. This overtravel of the finger 182 allows the sensing rod 179 to progress far enough to the right to operate the switch 169 by means of the push button 171. Operation of the switch 169 closes an electrical circuit which. provides a signal on a control panel 315 and also may be connected to actuate the particular orientator-dispenser mechanism 61 a second time. Upon perception of the empty chamber signal and correction of the malfunction by the operator so that a pin 34 reaches the pin rest position on the gate 158, the solenoid 174 is reoperatedto verify that a pin 34 is present on the gate 158 for each of the chambers 41 of the lock body 30 positioned below in a fixture 56. i

After each sensing operation that senses five pins present, the solenoid 174 is de-energized and the arbor 176 with head 177 is returned to normal position by means of the springs 188 and 187. Fingers 182 and collars 181 are returned at the same time. Simultaneously, the gate solenoid 143 is energized to retract the gate 158 by reciprocation of the arbor 155 to the right. When the gate 158 moves to the right all pins are released and fall into the chambers 41 of a lock body 30.

When loaded into the lock body 30, the upper portion 43 and the lower portion44 of each pin 34 are integrally connected by means of the neck 46 (Fig. 3). In order for a pin-tumbler lock to operate, the upper portion 43 and the lower portion 44 of the pins 34 must operate as separate pieces and it is therefore a step in the lockassembly process to crush the neck 46 and compress the material thereof into the plane of the line of division 45 after the pin 34 has been inserted in the lock body 30.

Pinramming unit Referring to Fig. 15, the pin-ramming unit 52 comprises a fluid cylinder =200 mounted on a cantilever frame 201 and positioned with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 200 vertically disposed above the central chamber 41 of a lock body 30 that is held in a fixture 56 on the turntable 55. The cylinder 200 is preferably of conventional construction having a reciprocal piston therein adapted to move up and down upon application of a fluid (such as air) under pressure to the top or bottom of the piston, respectively. A platelike ram 202 is fastened to the bottom of the piston rod, as shown in Fig. 15. A plurality of substantially cylindrical vertically aligned dies 203 is connected into the ram 202. Each die 203 is vertically aligned with a chamber 41 inthe fixture 56.

loading unit 51, all chambers 41 of the lock body 30 in the fixture 56 beneath the ramming unit 52 should contain apin 34.

An electrically operated fluid valve means 204 is mounted on the top of the fluid cylinder means 200 and is adapted to control the flow of air either to the top or bottom of the piston in the cylinder 200. The fluid valve means is preferably of conventional construction and is adapted to perform its fluid-control function upon the provision of electrical energy at wire leads 205.

Conduit means such as piping 206 is provided to furnish air pressure for the operation of the cylinder 200 from a source not shown.

As a safety precaution, a transparent shield 207 is fastened to the frame 201 enclosing the ram 202 and dies 203.

In the normal operation of the ramming unit 52 electrical energy is provided to the proper leads 205 in accordance with a program established by the control system 250, as shown in Fig. 16to be described later in detail. When the turntable 55 is stationary and a lock, haw'ng unseparated pins 34 vertically disposed therein, is in position beneath the ram 202, the electrically operated valve functions to direct the air into the cylinder 200 forcing the ram 202 with the dies 203 downward until the dies 203 strike the pins 34 on the top of the shoulder section 98 with sufiicient force to crush the neck portions 46. In the crushing action the upper portion 43 descends to meet the lower portion 44, causing the material of the neck 46 to be flattened and shredded to wafer thinness, whereby its supporting and connecting usefulness is destroyed. After the pins 34 have been struck by the dies 203, the upper and lower portions 43 and 44 are unconnected.

When the ram 202 reaches the bottom of its downward stroke and the dies 203 strike the pins 34, an electrical switch 208, the operative wheel thereof being shown in Fig. 15, is closed which operates the fluid valve means 204. Valve means 204 operates to change the flow of air into the cylinder 200 and reverse the action of the piston and ram 202 returning the ram 202 to its normal up position.

Control system for pin-loading and pin-ramming units In order that the lock-assembling machine shall be capable of coordinating the functions of the various assembly units 51, 52, and 53, and to assure the proper cooperative combined action of all the parts of the machine the electromechanical control systems shown in Figs. 16 and 24 are provided. While provision is made in the pin-loading unit control system, designated generally as 250, to control the initial signal for the operation of the spring-loading unit 53, the spring-loading unit control circuit 251 has been separated as a matter of descriptive convenience and is shown in detail in Fig. 24.

., .-Referringto Fig. 16, a lead 255 for a first side and a lead 256 for a second side of the control system 250 are provided for connection to a source of electrical power. A two-pole line switch 257 is provided across both sides of the line and is connected to leads 255 and 256. A pin-release circuit 258 is connected across the line having a normally closed relay switch 259, a normally closed limit switch 260, a foot switch 58, and a pin-selection relay 261 in series. A turntable operation circuit 262 is connected in the pin-release circuit 258 between the foot switch 58 and the pin-selection relay 261 and is connected to the second side of the line through a motor 263 for the operation of the turntable 55. The turntable motor 263 is provided with a conventional sustaining circuit connection 264 that is connected to the pin-selection circuit 258 between the limit switch 260 and the foot switch 58. A sensing-gate mechactivator circuit 265 is connected across the line haying a time-delay relay 266 and a normally tClQSfi of a two-pole switch 273. A ram control circuit 274.. is

connected across the lowryoltage side of the transformer 272; The ram control'circuit 274 comprises parallelly connected ram down" valve relay27-5 in series. with. a normally open relay switch 27.6,.-and"-ram pp :valve relay 2'77 iu series with a normally rclosedrelay switch 278 and a normally open limit switch 279.

As" indicated by the dashed line in Fig. '16 relay switches 259, 27.6, and 278 are operated by means of ram actuator relay 279.

A plurality of pinadispenser circuits 235 28.6, 1287, 288, 289 is provided which are connected across the line as shown with particularity for pin-dispenser circuit 285. One pin-dispenser circuit is' provided for each chamber 41 of the locks 29 being assembled in the pin-assembling machine. In the pinrassembling machine of the example, because the machine is constructed to assemble lock 29 having five chambers 41, live piindispensing circuits are shown in Fig. :16. However, since pin-dispensing circuits 286-, 287, 288, and 289 are identical withpinadispensing circuit 285, only pin-dispensing circuit 285is shown with particularity. v

In the pin-dispenser circuit 285 one side of a multipleposition selector switch 290 is connected to the first side of the line. Each of the second side leads of the selector switch 290 is connected through'an indicator light 291 to the second side of the line. Another multiple-position selector switch 292 is connected to one side of the line through alternate leads, one of' which is' provided with a normally open relay switch 293 and the other of which is provided with a normally open pushebutton switch 294 The second side leads of the'selector' switch 292 arecon nected through the orientator-dispenser solenoids 117 to the other side of the line. The relay switch 291 is operated by the Pill-{$163.56 relay 261 as shown by the dashed i e .0 g- 7- Th mul ip e-p tio sel cto s t 2, 2 a d 2 0 a m nis l y nter ocked. s t a selective positioning of the switch 292 completing the circuit to ny Par u a o o th orien tor-di peher 91 912 7'Wi l. co p et t ci it t a cor 'i at in ic to li ht 2 A sensing solenoid 295 is connected across the line hav g a no ally open relay W c 2 6, n mally 9 9$1 r ay i c 2 7, the ensin $01L i 1' 71 and a nchn ly c os pus t on itc 308 conne t' diin s ie Al c nne te c s he line is the intera io and indicator circuit 298, having in series the rel'ay switch 296, the gate-operating solenoid 143, the normally closed nu hhuIficn switc 308, crma y cl sed l m wi e 16? o he ens n as e ly .132, a d a' rr al r e re a wi ch 3 A ela 3 is connecte rarahe i h't gate ol 3- An emp ch m e indi ato light 302is connected in parallel across each of the limit switches 169, A lock-in circuit 305 is' connected across the iine in series with the normally closed push-button switch 3% and the relay switch29g6, 7 V I Vibrator coil 66 is connected across the line toadoublepole line switch 304. i Referring to Fig. 5, a portion of the controls shown in the control system .250 is housed in a cabinet 315; Control's for the parts feeder 66 may be housed in aseparate cabinet 316, The operating toggle of thelihefswitch and knob 366 for adjustingthe'rateof vibration of the parts feeder 66 project from the forward side of. the

' cabinet 3 16." In'addition', the operating toggle of line .switch' 213 projects from the forward side of the ca inet 3 16.

The forward face of the control cabinet 3151s p 'ovided with the indicating lights 2'91 arrangediin vertically aligned rows for each chamber of at ire-chambe Bl ck vto he assembled, i. e., all of the indicatorZlights29:1- or one disp nsin s u tg forr tan 28. are rr nged in v rt c l line- The...lis t 2 1 are e rrwengedin e ch vert ca line in ccorda e w t p edete m e or r o pi di s on len th a a e eing d pos ted n t ow s 6 E ch hor zontal ro -of light t us, represen a ffie p n ivi on len h that is avail-ahl 'i e ding nto the each of the multiple-position selectDrsWi-tches 292 is Positioned below the indicator lights 291 which it controls. Empty chamber indicator lights 73,02 are ar anged in a hQr-izontalrow on t e f o t of he ab n t 3 5;.0 beneath each row of indicator l-iglnts 291 and selector switch knobs- 1 Th Pus -bu S it s 2 i n -chamber p n teed e, ar ang d n a horiz al row with the proper push button 292 disposed below the vertical line of indicator lights 291 of sthqparticular disn nssr om 2 5 8 6 2.87, 288, Q to whi h the push-button switch 292 is apart. Nor 11y closeldsensingpush-button switch 308 and line t .257- are also positioned on the froni face'of the cabinetfili,

,Time lay elay 266is m c an callyih erlo ked wi why switches 6 and Haa s c tn hythe da e ine. i 16 Relay switch 297 is mechanically interlocked with relay 301 and relay switch 3100 is mechanically interlocked andoperated byrelay 307. I i

P ior t e npe ion i ihom enc d; :h' w h 257 2 .3 and 1 4 r e c o d d the t bl is e v at o 9f th s tionary. r man h a h l -r beneath each of the operative units 51, 52, and 53, At each s atio ar P i n i he u n ab e r m nerated normally closed switch 267 of the sensing-gate actuator circuit 265 isplosed. H V I i i V I U l i p v After a suitable warm-up eriodtheoperator places ,an nty-1 y '30 ha ng a .ha d nc vs a k ke in each of the fixtures 56 located at the first two; stations, indicated as L. an M in the t mtable diagram of Fig. 4. W vthese two fix ures con in n smmyllo bodi 30, he Pew er c s t ea em y cre ion t ommen by the single movement of actuation of theioot switch 58. Momentary closing of the foot switch i 5 plosesthe turntable o at n ui .2 2 g he t r t ble meter 26.3 u ing h u tah 5 tmrp t ndinde t the n st p si on-n Duri ath n ex ng m n of the turntable 55 the turntable operation circuit 262 through the turntable motor 26$,is maintainedby neans of the connection264 of the conventional sustaining circuit conn c edt t e. u nta e mQ Q 6 h n he on w tc .,.58. s close ass-elem i and 289 causesa pin 34 to'be released for each chamber 41 in the lock body 30; which is being carried to the pinloading unit positionby the indexing operation of the turntable 55. During theindeiiing of the turntable 55the cam switch 267 is opened de-energizing 'tlie time-delay relay 2 66 and opening relay switch 296'arid closing relay switch 269. I

When the turntable 55 has indexed one station the switches 267 and282: close, The closing of cam sWitQh' 2B2 energizes relay 270 which closes the -down valye relay switch 276 causing theramZQZ'tO descend the ramming operation. At thesametim the relay I 7 switcli'259 is opened preventing operation by the; foot switcliduring the, delay period? The rarnfopen's: limit switch 260 at the bottom. of its. stroke preventingioperation by the foot switch 58 Whilei'the. ram is down; After a delay of several seconds; time delay relay 2'66? operates and opens switch 269' and closes relay switch 296. The opening of switch 269 de-energizes therelay270 closing switch 259:. At the same time;.relay switch 276 is. opened and relay switch. 278 is closed completing the circuit I through the up valve relay 277 changing the valve 204 and causing the ram' 202] to; be raised to the up position. When the ram120'2 goes up. normally closed limit switch 260 closes making, the pin-selection.circuit 258 ready for the next operational cycle. Upward operation of the ranr 202 allowsthe normally openlimit switch 27!? to open preventing, further operation of the valve 204 to" the fup" valve position unless the ram 202 has been returned to the downposition; p

Upon the closing of the relay switch 296 after the delay period at the end: of the index operation, the. seasing solenoid 1 7 4Kis1 energized causing the: fingers 182 to move to the right and feel for the presence of a pin 34 in release" position on the gate 158. If each fi'ngcr 18-2 contacts a pin so that. none of the normally closed limitswitches 1'69 are contacted by therods 179, the correction and indicating circuit 298 isunbroken through the switches 169, gate solenoid 1'43; and relay 301. In order to prevent the operation of the gate solenoid 143 before the fingers 1-82 have had time to, feel. for the presence of pins 34, the correction-'and-indicatingcircuit 298 is closed after a very slight delay through the action of delay solenoi'd307. Upon the closing of" relay switch 300 thesolenoid 143 is energized, retractingithe gate 158 from 'beneath the pins 34 in the escapement head 1'30 and the pins are allowed to fall into the chambers 42. Y

In the event that one or more pins have not arrived in the escapement head- 130 in position on the gate158,

the overtravel of the finger 182 at that particular gate position allows the rod 179 to; contact the-button 171' of a switch 169, which opens the switch. Opening of a switch 169 causes current to flow through the particular indicating light 302 connected in parallel therewith. This causes the indicating light 302' to light up on the face' of the control panel 3-15 which may be seen by the'opratoi.

At the same time passage of the current through, heindicating light 302 raises the resistance of the circuit 298 to avalue that decreases the current flow sothat gate solenoid- 1'43 and relay 301 are not operable. 'Assoon as the operator is aware of the signal provided by the-lighted empty chamber light mane operator maypushthe single-chamber'pinfeed push button 292 in theselector circuit 285, 286, 287, 288,01- 289 causing: the reactivation of the particular orienta'tor-dis'penser mechanisin61 that has failed to provide a pin in the emptychamber;

Operation of the push button 292. will ordinarily clear any jams in the orientator-di'spenser mechanism 61, unless a: malformed pin' has cfaus'ed the troublea' After operation of the push button- 292, the arrival of a pin" at theempty chamber position on the gate 1 58Qm'ay be detected by operation of the normally closed sensing pushbutton switch 308 inthe resensing circuit 3 05 Opening of the switch 308 de-energize's the entire-'se nsingg'gate circuit. I T

As soon as the assembly condition is fulfilled, wherein a pin 34 is present at each chamber position onth'e' gate 158, the release of the button 308-will cause the com letion of the correction and signalfci'rcuit2 98 through the limit switches 169, the relay switches 2 96 and 300,' thegate solenoid 143 and through relay 1301. Completion of the circuity298 through the gate solenoid 143 bprtteS allows the pins to fall the bowls providing 'for the continuous feed of pins in heorientator-dispenser-mechanismsnormally closd relay: switch 281* is providedfin theseeone' side of tlieli'ne operated; by' a relay 5111 ofth'e sfirihgdoading unit-'S-ScOntrol: circuit 251*, i

In" the event that there is amalfunction in the spring loading unit 53, the relay 511 is activated to open the relay switch 281 which shuts; 0E operation ofthe remainder-of the lock-assembly machine including the pinloadingunit- 51 and the ramming unit 52* until the trouble has been corrected. v g

v Asingle-actingmake-and-break relay '280 is connected in the sensing-gate actuatorcircuit 265jbetween delay relay 266 and cam switch 267. The relay 280' operates a normally open relayswitch 514 of the. spring-loading unit 53 controlcircuit 251.

. I When the cam switch 267 is closed at the-end of.

index operation of the turntable 55 the single-action make-and-break relay 280- operates to close the relay switch514' momentarily. ,Aiter momentary closing the switch 514- is opened until the next cycle. Closing of the relayswitch. 514 operates the spring-loading unit 53 as herein described elsewhere.

In the use of .the lock-assembling machine of this in;- venti'on,.it. is, a simple matter. to produce locks assembled with pin and chamber combinations conforming to a predeterminedplan. of high-volume mass production. operator may be provided .with a schedulesettingz-forth the quantityot any particular lock combination and a sequence of. manufacture for particular lock combinations. These: may bev rapidly set up on; the control panel or the. assembling machine bymeans of setting the knobs 319 of the selector switches 2192'. The particular com.- b1nation which is set up on. the control panel'is readily bottom of the container .410 and disccrnable by the visual observation of the lighted indicator lights 29 1 on the face of the control panel 315,. After. setting the knobs the operator may, actuate the machine by pressing the foot. switch 58 the. number of times necessary to provide the number ofl'ocks required according to the schedule. 7

Springwupplying and. inserting unit'53' Referring now to Figs. 17-24,. the springtsupplying and inserting unit 53 is mounted on a mainframe 401. An electric motor 402: provided with'spC -reiducti'on gearing 403 is connected through a coupling 404to a shaft 4115 supported by pillow blocks 406'406; Mounted on the shaft 405 are five -cams 407-407.. Each 407 contacts a flat spring 408 mounted on the frame401, as is indicated at 409 (Fig. 20'). Mounted on each fiat spring 408 is a container 410.covered by a lid 411., In each container 410 is a bolt-like member 412 mounted vertically in the container 414}, protruding through I m through the spring 4.08, and held in place by a nut413. The member .412 has a shallow conicalfunneling surface 414 communicating withayertica-l cylindricaloutlet 415 g .7

The coilt-aiuer l-ll) is partially. filled, preferablyfnot above the tunneling. surface 414, with helicalspr' 35-35, as most clearly seen in Fig. 20. The spr ngs 35'35 are'substantially' identical helical springs, greater in ax'ial length thanin diamet'er The .outlet 415 the gate '158, and releases the sensing solenoid 174 r diameter greater than the diameter .of the springs 35,-; and less than twice the springv diameter. The shallo conical funneling sur-faceAIS. is located above thjebo tom surface 416 of the container 410, and the i of the tunneling surface 414 is greater than the 1c of the springs 3.53;5. Rot ati on of. the cam 407 chin tact withthe flat spring 408 vibrates the' container ,410 substantially vertically, causing the springs 35 35 th initomove about, breaking loose any tangled sp particularly when they strike the lid 411, aud o 1 some of the s'pring's 35-, 35 tofall on the shallow conical" surface 414m through'the outlet 415. 5 I K j Below eaeh contain'er 410 is an inclined trough' fl'h located with its upper portion below the outlet 415. The

, trough 417 is formed by two lower members 418, 419

and a'cover 420, providing a triangular cross section. The intersection of the side members 418, 419 provides a guide channel 321 in the bottom surface of the trough 417 for permitting the springs 35-35 to slide down the trough 417 in a line along their axes.

An opening 422 in the cover 420 of the trough 417 is located directly below the outlet 415 of the container 410, so that the springs falling through the outlet 415 are caught by the trough 417. An impact plate 423 is located in the trough 417 just below the opening 422, to break apart any springs that might otherwise tend to tangle. B'afiles 424-424 may be provided in the trough 417 to aid in directing the springs 35-35 in the guide channel 421 formed by the intersection of the lower members 418, 419 of the trough 417. The trough 417 is mounted on the frame 401, as is indicated at 425 in Fig. 20.

'A cylindrical outlet 426 is located in line with the guide channel 421 at the lower end of the trough 417. The outlet 426 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the springs 35-35 and less than twice the spring diameter. Connected to the end of the outlet 426 is a length of tubing 427 communicating with the outlet 426 providing a hollow guide for guiding the springs 35-35 in line axially to an escapement mechanism 428, which provides an intermediate stopping location for the springs 35-35.

An opening 429 is provided in the lower end of the trough 417 adjacent the outlet 426. The opening 429 is large enough to permit any of the springs 35-35 reaching the vicinity of the outlet 426, but failing to enter the outlet 426, to drop through the opening 429 into a receptacle 430, which is located below the opening 429 to receive and contain any of the springs 35-35 that drop through the opening 429. The receptacle 430 is placed on a shelf 431 of the main frame 401. A fiat plate 432 deflects into' the opening 429 those springs 35-35 that do not enter the outlet 426. V

The escapement mechanism 428, shown most clearly in Fig. 21, includes an escapement block 433 and a solenoid 434 mounted on a shelf 435 of the main frame 401. The solenoid.434 actuates a plunger 436 to which is connected a framework 437. The framework 437 includes a retainer plate 438, a rubber cushion 439, an end plate 440, and two rods 441-441. The rods 441-441 extend through cylindrical holes 442-442 in the escapement block 433 and into similar holes (not shown) in the solenoid 434. Helical compression springs 443-443 on the rods 441-441 between the retainer plate 438 and the solenoid 434 force the framework 437 to the left, as in Fig. 20, when the solenoid 434 is not energized. When the solenoid 434 is energized, the plunger 436 and the framework 437 are pulled to the right as in Fig. 21. p A pin 444 is connected to the retainer plate 438 of the framework 437 for movement in a cylindrical hole 445 in the escapement block 443. A pin 446 is connected to the end plate 440 of the framework 437 for movement in a cylindrical hole 447 in the escapement block 443. The horizontal cylindrical holes 445, 447 communicate with a vertical cylindrical passage 44% in the escapement block 433. The tubing 427 is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical passage 448 in the escapement block 433. When the solenoid 434 is not energized, the lower retainer pin 444 protrudes into the cylindrical passage 448 as in Fig. 20, retaining all of the helical springs above it in the passage 448 and in the tubing 427 'In the unenergized position of the solenoid 434, the upper retainer pin 446 is located to the left of the cylindrical passage 448 of the escapement block 433. When the solenoid 434 is energized, the plunger 436 is pulled to the right, as in Fig. 21, with the lower retainer pin 444 to the right of the passage 448 and with the upper retainer pin 446 protruding into the passage 448. The

upper retainer pin 446 is located above the lower retainer pin 444 a distance greater than the length of the springs 35-35 and less than twice the spring length. When the solenoid 434 is energized, the lower retainer pin 444 rd .cedes from the cylindrical passage .448, releasing the spring 35, which is the lowest in the cylindrical passagc While the lower retainer pin 444 recedes from the cylindrical passage 448, the upper retainer pin 446 protrudes into the passage 448 into the middle of the spring 35", which is the second lowest spring in the passage 448. The upper retainer pin 446 thus retains the spring 35" and all springs above it in the passage 448 and in the tubing 427 before the lowest spring 35 is released by the lower retainer pin 444. When the solenoid 434 again becomes unenergized the springs 454-443 force the framework 437 to the left. The lower retainer pin 444 protrudes into the passage 448 before the upper retainer pin 446 is completely withdrawn from the passage 448, releasing the spring 35". When the upper'retainer pin 446 is clear of the passage 448 thespring 35" drops down against the lower retainer pin 444 into the position formerly occupied by the spring 35'. Alternately energizing and de-energizing the solenoid 434 alternately releases the lower retainer pin 444 and the upper retainer pin 446 while moving the other retainer pin 446, 444 into its retaining position, thereby releasing one spring 35 at a time at the intermediate stopping location 428. A length of tubing 449 is connected to the lower end of the cylindrical passage 448 in the escapement block 433 and to the upper end of a cylindrical spring-delivery tube 450 in a spring-collector block 451 (Figs. 17 20, 22, and 23). The spring-collector block 451 is pro vided with five spring-delivery tubes 450-450, one for each pin chamber 42 of the lock 29. The spring-collector block 451 is provided also with five vertical cylindrical passages 452-452 extending through the block 451. Each of the spring-delivery tubes 450-450 communicates with one of the vertical passages 452-452, as is indicated at 453. The lower portion 454 of each vertical passage 452 of the spring-collector block 451 communicates with a pin chamber 42 of the lock 29.

A spring released by the escapement mechanism 428 passes through the tubing 449, a spring-delivery, tube 450, and the lower end 454 of a vertical passage 452 to a pin chamber 42 of the lock 29, to rest on a pin 34 therein. The combined components 407-449 of Fig. 20

comprise a spring-feeder apparatus 455, five of which are employed in the spring-supplying and inserting unit 53 of Fig. 17. The tubing 449 of each spring-feeder apparatus 455 is connected to a different one of the spring delivery tubes 450-450 of the spring-collector block 451 for delivery of a spring 35 to each pin chamber 42 in the lock 29.

Sensing and loading mechanism 460 Referring now to Figs. 17-19, a portion of the springsupplying and inserting unit 53 comprises a sensing and loading mechanism 460. A mounting post 461 connected to the main frame 401 supports the other components of the sensing and loading mechanism 460. An air motor 462 is connected through a control valve 463, a pipe 464, a regulator 465, and an air line 466 to a source of compressed air (not shown). A bearing block 467 is connected to the lower end of the air motor 462 by'threaded members 468. The air motor 462 provides movement along a vertical line. When the valve 463 is in the down position. the air motor 462 moves the bearing block downward between a left-side bearing 469 and a right-side bearing 470 far enough for the left side 471 of the bearing block 467 to' contact the arms 472, 473 of two push-button switches 474, 475, respectively. When the valve 463 is in the up position, the air motor 462 moves the bearing block 467 back up to the position shown in Figs. 18 and 19,-

' ing the switch-actuating member 478; also extendra dially' outward from the member 478. The positioning pins 480 are located forty-five degrees apart around the sea-4533s that chamber 42? would be pressed farther: into the chant:

j man the beanngblock 467s, and thefend 493 ofthe cylindrical member 487 would be moved down far circumference of member 478, four of the pins 480-480 a being located directly behind the pins 479-479 and the other four being located behind and midway between the switch-actuating pins 479-479. The friction provided by the h'olding' spring 477 and the mounting pin 476 maintains the switch-actuating member 478 in a position as determined by the action of anactuatinga'rm 481.

on the positioning pins 480-480. Theiactua'ting' arm 481' is' madeof thin flat spring metal and is held in place by a' bracket 482 connected to the right-side, hearmg 170.

When the air motor 472 moves the bearing block 467 downward with the switch-actuating member-478 in th'e position shown in Fig. 18, with each of the switch-ace tuating pins 479 479 forty-five degrees away from the vertical, the top edge of the actuating arm 481 contacts the positioning pin 480 extending horizontally to the right, at the bottom ofthe down stroke, turning the switch actuating member 478 forty-five degrees. On the upward return stroke of the bearing block 467 one of theswitch=acftuating pins 479-479 is in a vertical position as Fig; 19. Asthe end of the upstroke, the

enough to push down the pushbutton of thecorrespond ingswitch silt-505. For example, it a pin: were not present in the first pin chamber 42, the first sensingrod 485 would extend further into the first pin chamber'42 than if a pin were present, and the lowerend 493- of the first cylindrical member 487 would pnsh the push. button of the first switch 501.

The bearing bl'ock 467 moves down-far enoughtopress the lower end 493' of the cylinder 487 against the pushbutton of the switch 501 if there is no pin in the firstpin chamber 42, or the corresponding switch 502, 503, 504; or 505'if a' missing from one of theother pin chambers -42-42. Normally pins" 34-34 are present in the pin chambers 42-42 and stop' the downward movement of the sensing rods 485-485 before thecompletion of the down' stroke ofthe bearing block467. The remainder otth'e down stroke of the bearing block 467' compresses the springs 488-488 against the shoulders 489-489 of the cylindrical members 487-487;

7 Electrical control system 251 Fig. 24 showsschematically the electrical control" system 251 of the spring-supplying and inserting unit 53'. A power line or other A.C. voltage source 506' is connectedthrough a double-pole singlethrow' switch- 507 to v a pair of conductors 508, 509. The conductor: 508i's vertically pos'itione'd switch-actuating pin 479 closes a push=butto1r switch 483. At the bottomof thefnext down a s'trollce; the switch-actuat ng varr n' 481' turns the switch a rnati g member' 478 forty-five degrees. more, returning pthe;switch'-actnating member *478 to -a position as shown in Fig. 18. On the return upstroke the" switch-actuating pins 47 9-479 are located forty five degreejsl away from the veftical and do not contact the push-button switch 483.

'I'hetwitch 483 is 'h'eldby a mounting bracket 48'4. Fives'ensingrods 484-485 are resilientlyconnected* to the hearing blocks 467. by meansofa U-sha'p'ed lifting member 486 and fiv'e cylindrical manners 487-487, one connected to each sensing rod 485. Each cylindrical member 487 protrudes partway into a cylindrical guide hole (not shown) in the bearing block 467. A compression spring 488 .loc'ated hetween the bearing block 467' and a shoulder'489 on the cylindrical-member 487 presses the horizontal portion of the sensing, rod 485 against the horizontal portion of the sensing rod lifting member 486.

a v Th'e'sensing rods"485-485 are guided by cylindrical holes 490-49 0 extending through se ming rod guide block 491. The lower endS'492-492' 'O f the Sensing rods 485-485 extend into the'yertical cylindrical holes i {p 452-452 of the spring-collector block 451. .When the bearing block 467 is iri its upper-position as in Figs. 18 and 19, the lower ends 492-492 of the sensing" rods 485-485 are located just above thejunctions 453 -453 where the spring "guide passages 450-450 communicate with the vertical passages 452-452 in the spring-collector block 451. ;V At the bottom of :a down stroke the sensing rods 485- 485 extend'into the pin chambers 42-42: of the lock 29.

When a pin 34 is present in each pin chamber 42, the

ends 492-492 of the sensing rods 485-485 contact the ends of the pins 34-34, with the lower ends 493-493 of the cylindrical members connected to the horizontal portions of the sensing rods 485-485 locatedabove the fivej-push-butto'n switches 501, 502, 503, 504, 505.

Should a pin-be missing from one of the pin chambers 42-4211: th'e'lock 29,"the sensing rod 485 vextendinginto upper position as sh'owrrin Figs. 1-8 and 19 to its lower.

. other end'of the'prima'ry winding 524-.is. connected;to'the is a circuit breaker-type relay that must be'reset whenever the switches 510' and 281 "are open. The conductor 509 is connected to one terminal otf'a time-delayrelay 5 13.- The, conductor 512 is connected'throu'gh a single poie, single thr'ow switch 5&4 to'tlieother terminal of. the timedelay relay 513-." -The-switc'h'514,-which is normally open, is closed momentarily 'hy the relay 280 in the pi-reloading control circuit 250.. t

" Connected in parallel with the switch 5-14 are the com tact arm "515* and associated contact'point; 5160f the relay 5131- The relay 5 131. is a time-delay relay that con trols the contact arms 515, 517, 518, and 519 insuch a manner that when the relay 513 is not energized; the contact arms 515, 517; 518, 519 are in their lower position as shown in Fig. 24, with the contact arr'n'515- away from the contact point 516; with the-contact arm 5-17 contacting the associated contact point 520, with the contact arm 518 away from the contact point- 521, and with the contact arm 519' away fromthe contact point 522; and when there1ay513'is energized the contact arms 515, 517; 518-, 519 are moved to their upper position with the contact arm 515 contacting the contact point 516 with the contact arm- 517 contacting the contact point 523', 'with the contact arm 518contacting the contact point 521,

and with the contact arm-519 contacting the contact point 522, for a predetermined time slightly longer than the time required for-the bearing block 467 to travelfronr its position at the end of the down stroke. At the end of 't the predetermined time, the'contacts 515, 517, 518, 51

return to their lower position as shown in Fig. 24.

The conductor 512*is connected to one end oi the pri; mary winding 524, ofa' stepdownitransformer 525.- The condnctor509; The contact arm 517 of'the time-delay relay 513 is connected to one end of the secondary winding 526 of the step-down transformer 525. The other endjof the secondary winding 526 'isconnected-to 10116: terminal of-a,valve.-control solenoid 527 and to one terminal of a valve-control solenoid 528. The other terminal of the valve-controlsolenoid 528 is connected to one terminal of the normally open push-button switch 47 .th e V other terminal of which is connected to the contact point 520; The other terminal of the valve-control solenoid 527 is connected to the contact point'523. One terminal of the normally open push-button switch 483 is connected to the contact point 523, and the other terminal is connected to the contact point 520.

The conductor 512 is connected to the contact arm 518. The contact point 521 is connected to one terminal of a counter 529, the other terminal of which is connected to the conductor 509.

When the valve-control solenoid 527 is energized, it moves the valve 463 to the position that causes the air motor 462 to move the bearing block 467 downward to its lower position. When the valve-control solenoid 528 is energized, it moves the valve 463 to the position that provides an upward movement of the air motor and of the bearing block 467 to the upper position, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

The conductor 512 is connected to one terminal of the motor 402, which drives the shaft 405 and the cams 407- 407 to vibrate the spring containers 410-410. The other terminal of the motor 402 is connected to the conductor 509.

The conductor 512 is connected to one terminal of the normally open, single-pole, single-throw, push-button switch 474, the other terminal of which is connected to one terminal of a relay 530. The other terminal of the relay 530 is connected to the conductor 509. The relay 530 controls a contact arm 531 associated with a contact point 532. The contact arm 531 is connected to the conductor 512. The contact point 532 is connected to the contact arm 519. When the relay 530' is not energized, the contact arm 531 remains in its upper open position away from the contact point 532 as is shown in Fig. 24. When the relay 530 is energized, the contact arm .531 moves to its lower position in contact with the contact point 532. 1

One terminal of a normally open, single-pole, singlethrow, push-button switch 533 is connected to the conductor 512 and the other terminal is connected to the contact point 522-. The operator manually closes the switch 533 when it is desired to check the operation of the escapement mechanism 428428 and associated components without operating the sensing and loading mechanism 460.

The contact point 522 is connected by a conductor 534 to each of the five switch contact arms 501, 502, 503, 504, and 505. i

The conductor 509 is connected to one terminal of each of the escapementsolenoids 434a, 434b, 434e, 434d, and 434s; to one terminal of each of the trouble-indicator lights 541, 542, 543, 544-, and 545; and to one terminal of each of the relays 551, 552, 553, 554 and 555. The other terminal of the first escapement solenoid 434a is connected to a contact point 561 associated with the first switch arm 501. The other terminal of the first trouble-indicator light 541 and the other terminal of the first shutdown control relay 551 are connected to a contact point 571 associated with the first switch arm 50].. The switch arm 501 is normally in the upper position in contact with thecontact point 561 as shown in Fig. 24. When the bottom end 493 of the first cylindrical member 457 (Fig. 18) presses down the switch arm 501, the switch arm 501 is moved to its lower position in contact with the contact point 571. e

The other terminal of the second escapement solenoid 434-b is connected toa contact point 562 associated with the second switch arm 502. The other terminal of the second trouble-indicator light 542 and the other terminal of the second shutdown control relay 552 are connected to a contact point 572 associatedwith the second switch arm 502. The switch arm 502 is normally in the upper position in contact with the contact'point 562 as shown in Fig. 24. When the bottom end 493 of the second cylindrical member 487. (Fig. 18,) presses down the switch arrn' 502, the switch arrn 502 is moved to its lower position in contact with the contact point 572.

The other terminal of the third escapementtsolenoid 4340' is connected to a contact point 563 associated with the third switch arm 503. The other terminal of the third trouble-indicator light 543 and the other terminal of the third shutdown control relay 553' are connected to a contact point 573 associated with the third switch arm 503. The switch arm 503 is normally in the upper position in contact with the contact point 563 as shown in Fig. 24. When the bottom end 493 of the third cylindrical member 487 (Fig. 18) presses down the switch arm 5%, the switch arm 503 is moved to its lower position in contact'with the contact point 573.

' ""he'other terminal of the fourth escapement solenoid is connected to a contact point 564 associated with the fourth switch arm 504. The other terminal of the fourth trouble indicator light 544 and the other terminal of the fourth shutdown control relay 554 are connected to a contact point 574 associated with the fourth switch arm 504. The switch arm 504 is normally in the upper position in contact with the contact point 564 as shown in Fig. 24. When the bottom end 493 of the fourth cylindrical member 487 (Fig. 18) presses down the switch arm 504, the switch arm 504 is moved to its lower position in contact with the contact point 574.

The other terminal of the fifth escapement solenoid 4642 is connected to a contact point 565 associated with the fifth switch arm 505. The other terminal of the fifth trouble-indicator light 545 and the other terminal of the fifth shutdown control relay 555 are connected to a contact point 575 associated with the' fifth switch arm 555. The switch arm 505 is normally in the upperposition in contact with the contact point 565as shown in Fig. 24. When the bottom end 453 of the fifth cylindrical member 48.7 (Fig. 18) presses down the switch arm 505, the switch arm 505 is moved to its lower position in contact with the contact point 575.

One terminal of the shutdown relay Silis connected to the conductor 509. The other terminal of the shutdown relay 511 is connected by a conductor 535 to one terminal of each of the relay switches 583a, 585a, 582b, 585a 5541), and 5820. The conductor 508 is connected to one terminal of each of the relay switches 581a, 582a, 551b, 583b, 5330, and 58517. A conductor 536 connects together the opposite terminals of the relay switches 581a, 532a 553a, and 5234a. A conductor 537 connects the opposite terminals of the relay switches 581b, 533b, 582b, and 555a. A conductor 538 connects together the opposite terminals of the relay switches 5830, 535b, 584b,

and 5820.

The shutdown control relay 55l controls each of-the relay switches 551a, 581b, which are ganged. When the relay 551 is not energized, the relay switches 581a, 53% remain in their upper, open position as shown in Fig. 24. ,When the shutdown control relay 551 isenergized, the relay switches 581a Stillb'are moved to their lower, closed. position. The shutdown control relay 552 controls each of the relay switches-552a, 582b, 5342c, which are ganged. When the relay 552 is not energized, the relay switches 532a, 552b, 582a remain in their upper, open position as shown in Fig. 24. Z Whenthe shutdown control relay 552 isenergized, the relay switches 582a,

. 582b, 5820 are moved to their lower closed position. The

shutdown control relay 553 controls each of the relay switches 533a, 533b, 5830, which are ganged. When the relay 553 is not energized, the relay switches 583a, 583b, 583s remain in their upper, open position as shown in Fig. 24. When the shutdown control relay 553 is energized, the relay switches 583a, 583b, 5830 are moved to their lower, closed position. The shutdown control relay 554 controls each of the relay switches 584a, 5841), which are ganged. When the relay 554 is not energized, the relay switches 584a, 584k remain in their upper, open position as shown in Fig. 24. When the shutdown con- 

